Magneto



Aug. s, 1924. 4 IMAG-4 O. F. CNKLIN ET VAL Aug. s. 1924. 1,503,483

O. F. CONKLIN ET AL y MAGNBTO Filed nec. 17, 1919 i 5 sheets-sheet 2 lauf KAGNBTO Filed Dec. 17, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

bnIvEn r. coNxLIN AND To: 'rmi REMY Application Med December l?, 1918. Serial No.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, OLIVER F. CONKLIN and JOHN A. VANNEMAN, citizens of the United States of America, residing, at Anderson, county of Madison, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Magnetos, of which the following is' a; full, clear, and exact description.

is invention relates to magnetos and has among its objects simplification of-construction with a view to lessening the cost of manufocture.

It is a further object of the invention to construct and ari-an the magneto interrupter and distributing apparatus of the magneto in such mmanner as to be readily accessible for inspection and adjustment; und so that 'the apparatus may be removed as a unit from the ma eto.

In carrying out the foregoing aim of the invention the timer cam is shaft, but a vertical shaft carrying the timer cam and the .distributor 5 rotor is mounted upon the magneto frame and is driven by means of suitable. gearing :in'iilinr ith the construction und operation of the magneto cannot easily tamper with tht-se adjustments. One manner of carrying: out this object is to mount the timer cum in a non-adjustable manner u and to adjust the time re ation-between the timercam shaft and the armature shaft by adjusting'the gearing between these shafts. The aforesaid gearing is ing provided `vith a cover which cannot be easily removedA evcept` b vwsuch persons as :ire equipped with the proper tools. and who thoroughly understand what adjustments aire necessary render the operation of the magneto eiioclliv.i i

Itisn ffurther,object of thv invention to provide improvements in the c Another object of the invention is to provide Improvements lnihe mounting of the breakeiiflever of the magneto interruptor on the cam shaft enclosed Ein a hous-4 moet.

whereby this leverumay be quickly detached .for repair or replacement from the magneto interruptor.

A further ob'eot of the invention is to provide improved means tfor adjusting'ilie interrupter or timer contacts.

A urthei` object of parts of the magneto. A fuit er object, is to provide improved means for mounting the condenser to facilitate replacement or repairs.

A further object is to -provide improved means for mountin th* conducting brushes of the magneto to tgacil spection orreplacement. l i

Other and further objects of the present invention `will be apparent from the followingdescri'ption. reference being,i had to the accompanying drawin s., wherein al referred embodiment of t e ,present invention is clearly shown. ,Y

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section'l view of n magneto embodying 'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of :i special tool used to remove the magneto end frame cover;

Fig3 is` anl end view of the magneto viewed from the left of Fig. 1. certain parts being shown in section;`

1g. 4 is an end viw of the magneto viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the magneto timr-distributor unit taken on the line of ig. 1:

Fig. 5l is side View of the high tension cable terminal clip:

ig. 6 is a plan view of the timer with th distributing apparatus removed;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the timer frame when removed from the magneto end frame:

Fig. 8 is :1 sectional view taken on the ,line 8`8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view portion of ythe timer; und..

Fig. 1.0 is a sectional view taken on the lino l0-l0 of Figf9.

In. the drawings, 20 designates the mog-b nvm :irniziture housing comprising a bottomwnll 21; :i top wall 22.4side walls 23 and 24 and an end wall 25. This housing 20 is con itsite removal for inable material.

of nonetic materiil but the major portions of t side walls 235ml 24 are occupied by the magneto pole pieces .26 and 27 which are constructed of magnetla- Where the housing 1s Vformed by means ofthe diefcasting process,

them to the pole pieces 26 and 27.

The end'wall 25 is provided withpa bearing 30, and the open end of the housing 20 isA provided with an end late or frame 31 carrying a bearing 32. T e housin 20 and its cover 31`form a substantially ustv and moisture proof box forthe4 augusto armature 33. Armature 33 comprises a core 34,

primar winding Y35 and secondary winding 36. T le core 34 is provided with pole faces 37 and 38 a ainst opposite ends of which are bolted the anges 39 and 40 of the armature shaft sections 4l and 42, respectively. Shaft V41 is journalled upon 'hearing 30 and shaft 42, u n bearing 32. I

Co lector rin 43 is mounted upon flange 39 but insulate therefrom, and in connected with one terminal 44 of the primary winding 34, the other primary terminal 35' being rounded upon the armature core 34. The

ange 40 is provided with a dee )ly grooved ring 45 of insulatin material av e111-, bedded therein a co ector ring 46 o conducting Iilatexial. The ring 45 is provided with an extension 47 whiclgro'eots .through an aperture in the flange xtension 47 is apertured to provide for the projection therein of the heavil insulated termiiial 48 of the secondary win in 36. The other terminal 49of the secon ary 36 is connected to the rimal'y terminal 44.

The housing cover 31 is provided with an annular flange 50 the outer portion of which is provided with an annular groove 51. The end frame cover 52 snugly fits into this Eia'oove` 51 in such a. manner that it cannot readily removed except by special means which will be described later. The end cover 31 together with its cover plate 52 form a sub tantiafly dust proof gear housing The shaft 42 rejects into housing 53 and is rovided wit a tapered ortion 54 and a threaded portion 55l w 'ch cooperates with a nut 56. A spiral gear 57 having a tapred bore lits over the'tapered portion 54. A r this gear 57 has been adjusted in position the nut'56 is tightened in order to firmly secure gear 57 upon the shaft 42.

- The .over plate 52 is provided with a 100 within which is setp threaded aperture 60 ,located opposite to the end of the shaft42. Aperture 60 is normally closed by a short screw 61. When the screw 61 is removed, the tool 62, see 2, may be inserted. The threaded shank 63 F0 of tool 62 is'long enough so that by screw' the tool 62 through aperture 60 the en cover 52 is forced out of position and thus. removed from the end frame 31 in order to provide access to the gearing` within the 75 housin 53. It will beapparent from the foregoing that the cover y52 has been mounted in such a mannerthat it cannot be readily removed except by persons provided with the proper tools.i f v The magneto housing upper wall 22 is provided with an upwardly extend' boss 0 which is a ertured at 71 endl-7g2 A metallic plate 3 is directly mounted upon the boss and. has attached thereto a B5 iiexible conductor 74 attached at the other end to a carbon brush 75 'which is constructed so as to have a. sliding fit within the aperture 72. A spring 76 is interposed between the plate 73 and the brush 75 in order to 90 maintain said brush 75 with yielding ressure against the cylindrical periphery o the flange 39. A plug of insulating material 80 and the plate 73 are secured in position'u on the boss 70 byl means of screws 81. P ug 95 80 is apertured to `provide for the pro'ec tion thereinto of a tube 82,r in which 1s slidabl mounted a brush 83. Brush 83 is aff. tac ied to one end of a flexible conductor 84 the other end of which is attached to a bolt 10 85. havin its threaded portion projecting outside o the plug 80 so as to engaged by a nut 86.v A splring 87 is located between the brush 83 and t e bolt 485 and serves to maintain brush 83 withyielding pressure against 10? the collector ring 43.

The housingup r wall 22 ris apertured. also to receive a p ug 90 of insulating'matsrial which tis rovided `with al hollow sleeve ortion 91 or the reception of an in- Il" sulate stranded conductor 92.' The plug 90 is provided with a conducting tube 9.3 in which is slidably mounted a brush 94 maintained 'in engagement with the collector ring 46 by means of a spring 95. A vzood screw 115 96 projects throughthe tube 93 and into the sleeve portion 91. :This screw 96 provides an electrical connection between the tube 93 and the cable 92 and servestoanchor said cable securel within the sleeve portion.91,120 and to provi e a waterproof join Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, the end frame 31 is provided with a bearing g ported for rotation the downwardly proj cup-shaped timer frame 192. The vstaff 101 is apertured to .provide a bearing for the timer cam shaft; 103 thelower end of which is 'ournalled in a second bearing 104 pro-` vi within the end frame 31. Shaft 103 U0 mg ma 101 of the 125 l either upon the cam carries a-spiral gear which is engaged by the gear 57 carried by the shaft 42. The stad' 101 is provided with a groove 106 into which pro'ects the end of a screw 107 having a threade en agement with the frame 31. Said screw 10 prevents endwise movement of timer cup 102 while permitting rotation thereof. A.conducting clip 108 of resilient material occupies a portion of the groove 106 and serves to insure a good electrical connection between the timer cup 102 and the magneto housing end plate 31 and the magneto housing 20.

e timer cam 110 is secured upon the cam shaft 103 in a non-adjustable fashion and said cam cooperates with an obliquely disposed rubbing block 111 mounted upon the end of breaker lever 112. Lever 112 is provided with a hub 113 which is journalled upon a stud 114 carried by the timer cup 102. Breaker lever 112 carries the movable timer contact 115 cooperating with stationary timer contact 116 which is carried by a contact adjusting plate 117. The adjusting plate is provided with a slot 118. A block 120 of non-conducting material is secured upon the timer cup 102. Block 120 is cut out as 121 to provide a semi-circular recess 121, so that said block `120 may lit around a portion of cam shaft 103 and may engage a shouldered portion 122 provided 110 or upon the shaft 103. In this manner locate the shaft 103 with respect'to the shaft 42. Block 120 is provided with apertures 123 and 124 and is reinforced by a metallic plate 125 secured thereto by means of rivet 126. Plate 125 is provided with a threaded aperture 127 having engagement with a screw 128 which passes through the slot 118 provided in contact adjusting plate 117. Timer cup 102, block 120 andv plate 125 are provided with aligned apertures to provide for the projection therethrough of a bolt 129 having a threaded portion 130 extending through slot 118 and engaged b a nut 131. The shouldered portion 132 of olt 129 engages against the block 120. so that b tightening up the nut the contact adliusting plate 117 may be secured in adjusted position upon the timer cup 102.

The timer cup 102 is provided with a downwardly projectin recess in which is located a condenser box 141 which is supported upon the timer cup 102 by means of rackets 142 and 143. 141 contains a condenser 'one end o f which is grounded upon a box and consequently upon the timer which is attached by means of a conductor 144 to a terminal clip 145 which in turn is attached to the bolt 129 bymeans of the nut 131. A iexible conductor 146 is attached at one end to the bolt 129 and at the other to the bolt 85 (see Fig. l).

the block 120 serves to The condenser box` cup 102, and the other endof be A distributor rotor of non-conducting material is mounted upon the cam 110 in a mannerso as to be supported and driven thereby. Rotor 150 is ductor 151 having a cup-shaped portion 152 in which is located a spring 153 and a brush 154 which is-maintained with yielding pressure by means of said sprin 153 against the distributor 'track 155. rack 155 is preferably constructed of rubber which has been molded within the distributor head 156 which is constructed of bakelite or other phenol condensation product. The track 155 is provided with a plurality of metallic inserts .or buttons 157, only one being shown.4 These buttons are attached to metallic receptacles 158 which are located within the cable receiving sleeve 159. Receptacle 158 is provided with an annular roove 160 which is arranged to be engaged li'y the flexible portions 161 of a cable terminal clip 162 shown at Fig. 5*. This terminal clip 162 is provided with an inwardl projecting pointed hook portion 163 whio pierces the insulation of the cable when the cable and the clip 162 are inserted within the cable receiving sockets 159. The receptacle 158 which is arranged axially of'the shaft 103 is engaged by a spring 166 which presses against a button 167 carried by the sleeve which is slidably mounted within the head 156. The cable 92 is attached to the receptacle 158 by means of one of the clips 162.

Thedistributor head 156 is maintained upon the timer cup 102 byl means of spring clips 170 which are pivotally mounted upon brackets 171 riveted to the timer cup 102.

The bracket 142 which supports the vcondenser-131 is provided with a hook portion 1421. A spring 119 is attached at one end to the hook 142* and at the other end tothe breaker lever 112. This spring 119 serves to maintain contacts 115 and 116 in engagement, and also to maintain said breaker 1ever in position upon the stud 114. After the distributor head 156. has been removed by disengaging the clips 170, the spring 119 may be disengaged frornthe hook 142, and the breaker lever 112 maybe pulled od' from the stud 114. In this manner the lever'may be easily replaced by a new one or the contact 115 may be easily cleaned.

In order to adjust the timing of the ignition a timer lever is seemed upon the lower surface or outer surface of the timer cup 102. The conductor 136 and 92 being4 flexible, adjustments ofthe timer cup 102 can made without interfering with the elect trical connections. v

The Vo eration of the magneto is as follows: Wl-ien the magneto armature is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the primary circuit is closed and comprises the follo oon-F ducting elements. Primary winding '35, oonprovided with a con-- is brought p -be conducted b lector ring 46,

circuit. 0 lplug in position serve to secure 1n ductor 44, collector r' wire 84, bolt 85,1iexib e conductor 146, bolt 126, contact adj ustng plate 117, contact 116, contact 115,l breaker lever 112, stud 114, timer cup 102, spring conducting clip 108, magneto housing 20, brush 75, flange 39, core 3e and primary terminal 36 to primary 35. he permanent magnets and the armature com will operate in such a. manner as to cause a current to be built up in the primary circuit during vii. portion of the rotative movement of the armature 33. At a time when there is a tendency for reversal of ux through the armature core but the primary current is tending to op ose this flux chan the primary circuit wil be broken by t e separation of the contacts 115 and 116 Awhich about by the action of the timer cam 110 upon the rubbing block 111. At this instant a sparking impulse will be induced in the secondary winding 36 and will means of terminal 48, co1- rush 94, 'cable 92, rece tacle 158, butto 167, conductor'll Vto rotor rush 154. The .ristributing rotor 150 is located so that at the instant referred to, this brush RS4-will be in' engagement with one of the stationary contacts 157. Frointhe stationcontact 157 this sparking impulse will 4e, bmsh sa, flexible a be conducted byl means of a high tension cable to one of t e spark plugs of an engine,

(not shown) where sparking will occur. The seconda circuit will be completedthrough the engine frame, the magneto frame 2O 4which is arrangedto be' mounted upon the engine, bearings 30 and 32, shafts 41 and 42, amature core 34 rimary winding 35 and secondary termina 49.

From the foregoing description it is evident that the construction of a hllision magneto has been simplified by re ng the number of parts. This is accomplished by assigning more than one function to certain elements. For instance, the magneto housing end frame 31 serves to form a dust proof enclosure to support one of the armature shaft bearings and to provide a gear housing. The flan e 39 serves not only as an element by whic shaft section 41 and armature core 34 are connected, but also as a eollector ri "forming a part of the primary- Irllllie same bolts 81 which secure the tion the plate 73 which carries one o the primar circuit brushes 75. `In the4 timer one bo t 129 and one nut 131 provide electrical connections between the condenser 141, the cable 146 and the stationary timer contact 116, and serve also as a means for securi,ing the contact adjusting plate 117 in position.

AnotherA important feature of the invention to which .reference has b een made is that of providing means by which the timer can be adjusted in relation w the operation of the engine for which the magneto is vided, but that afterthese adjustments ld.; once been made by skilled persons the mag- .neto can be closed up in such a manner that these adjustments cannot be tampered with by unskilled or meddlesome persons. This is accomplished by securing the timer cam upon the timer shaft in a non-adjustable manner instead of in an adjustable one as is the usual practice. The adjustment of the timer cam is secured by means of adjusti the gearing between the timer cam shaft an the magneto amature shaft. This gearin is located within an enclosure which is seale up in such a fashion that it cannot be readily opened except by persons having special tools for the purpose. This feature of the inventionv is important since Va number of troubles which are credited to the magneto often arise from faulty ad'ustments of the timer vmade usually by un illed mechanics. Another feature of the invention conside in providing a unitary timer and distributor struction w ich can be removed bodily from the rest of the magneto structurey without requiring theJ removal of the magneto from position on the engine frame, This is advantage o is when it is desired to remove the unit f r' repairs, or for replacement .by rnother unit. The timer an distributor unit is so located that the distributor head can be easily removed, while the ma assembledposition on the engine frame, per- `rnitting inspection of the parts enclosed within the timer cup. Such parts as the condenser, breaker lever and stationary contacts may easily be removed for repair or replacement, and the breaker contacts may be easily cleaned.

In case of wear, the non-conducting block 120, which supports the stationary contact and fits in under the cam 110, can easil be replaced so that the gears 105 and 57 wi l be maintained in proper adjustment and the cam 110 will be maintained at the proper elevation with respect to the rubbing block lll.

It is to be noted also that the conducting brushes in the magneto lowandhigh-ten sion circuits are arranged so as to be readily accessible from the top of the ma eto.

etoisstillinv While the form of mechanism herein" shown and described constitutes a preferred l brushes; a conducting member in contact with the frame and attached to one of the i field magnets and pole pieces; of a Amagneto Vao frame supporting the magnets and pole pieces; shaft provisions carrying an armature mounted for rotation upon said frame; a timer housing support attached to the magneto frame; a timer housing rotatably mounted on said support; cooperating contacts mounted within the timer housing, one of said contacts being grounded on the timer housing; conducting means insulated from the frame for connecting the ungrounded contact with the armature winding; means for grounding the armature windingon the magneto frame; and a resilient grounding member located between Ythe timer housing and the timer support.

4. In a magneto, the combination with a frame and a field magnet supported thereon; of an armature; an armature shaft rotatably supported by said frame and projecting outside an end thereof; a gear adjustably mounted on the projecting endof said shaft; a timer includin an operating shaft; a gear on said timer s aft cooperating with the first gear; a gear housin enclosin the gears and extending beyon the end o said armature shaft and provided with an opening opposite the end of said armature shaft; a cover fitting into said opening and provided with a screw-threaded orifice in line with said armature shaft; and a removable plug for said orifice.

5. In a magneto, the combination with a frame and a field magnet supported thereon; of an armature; an armature shaft ro tatably supported by said rame iand projecting outside an end thereof; a gear adjustably mounted on the projecting end of said shaft; a timer including an operating shaft; a gear on said timer shaft cooperating with' the first gear; a gear housing mounted on said frame, carryinga bearing for said armature shaft, a support for said timer and providin an enclosure for said gears extending i shaft to provide an annular flange; a gear housing cover fitting Within said annular flange and provided with a screw-threaded orifice in line with said armature shaft; and a removable plug for said orifice.

6. In a magneto, the combination with field magnets and an armature; of a supporting frame for the magnets and armature, said frame including a gear housing having an opening; a shaft extending into said housing; a gear adjustaby mounted on eyond the end of said armature' said shaft; a cover for said housing opening,

the periphery of the cover having a drive fit Within said housin to render diflicult the prying of the cover Ioose, said cover 'having a threaded aperture; and a removable closure for said aperture.

7. In a magneto, the combination with an armature having a shaft and a timer having a shaft; of cooperating gears connecting said shafts, one of said gears being adjustably mounted on one of the shafts; ,a housing enclosing said gears and having an opening; a cover for said housing opening, the periphery of the cover havin a drive `fit within the housing to render di cult the prying of the cover loose, said cover having a threaded aperture; and a removable closure for said aperture.

In testimony whereof we atix our signa.`

tures.

OLIVER F. CONIUIN. JOIIN A. VANNEMAN. Witnesses:

F. J. Hamam, Fm HAHN. 

